lots of smaller powers right in the middle between the big players

That's why they will predominantly draft reservists with prior fighting experience, so that they don't have to start their training from zero.

Regarding the point about delaying the inevitable: it seems inevitable that Russia will not succeed at conquering the bulk of Ukraine's territory or forcing a regime change in Kyiv. What is not at all inevitable, however, is this idea that Ukraine will eventually take back Crimea and Donbass and restore its pre-2014 borders. If Russia's mission in Ukraine is shifted to a defensive one ("hold all the territory we currently control to the east/south of the Dnieper"), 300k additional troops seem adequate to stop any Ukrainian counteroffensive.

inb4 both sides dig in for the winter and never make it back to mobile warfare

That's actually what I expect. Some more offense by Ukraine around Kherson, then the frontline freezing during winter. It might be unrealistic, but I still hope both sides return to the negotiating table during that time and realize that going back to the status quo ante is more beneficial than either side trying to brute force its way to further territorial gains, which would come at a huge death toll and with devastated infrastructure.

This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Sep 21 2022 06:13pm

As I thought about this earlier, trying to rationalize this move, to me this is Russia's way of saying we are serious about taking over this territory. If they intended to possibly dangle Kherson or Zap as part of some sort of sanction relief or peace talks previously, that's over now. The referendums will codify these territorial changes, and the 300k troops to me are the insurance policy. Now the ball is in Ukraine's and the wests court. If Ukraine wants these territories back the lopsidedness of troop numbers where they can simply blitz smaller numbers of Russians how they did in Kharkov won't be possible anymore.

The Russians have been mostly on a defensive posture for at least a month maybe 2 now, not really committing to any large scale maneuvers. Now they will just remain on the defensive holding what they have and if Ukraine wants push the envelope on retaking the south and east now there's actual numbers there.

I'm being optimistic but I think this may actually lead to a lull in fighting at least I hope so.

This post was edited by ofthevoid on Sep 21 2022 06:25pm

What needs to happen next is giving Ukraine medium long range artillery so they can crush Russian bases in Ukraine from far enough 400-500 Russians at a time as current short-range HIMARS are now in danger thanks to camel fuckers giving Russians attack drones. But not long-range as that will lead to unnecessary strikes on Crimea or even Russia.

Is Putin for real? Calling in every reserve......

OK Lvivz

Don't worry, you won't be on this forum long ; )

He's calling in 1% of mobilization potential... 300k people, all reservists who will only need a couple months of extra training before being sent to the front.

Keep in mind Russia has a full mobilization pool of about 30 million people, 2 million of which are already reservists. What Putin is doing right now is a very small drop in the bucket compared to what he could unleash.

It shouldn't take much more than that to defeat Ukraine and finish off the Nazi threat.

ROFL you are delusional